A total of 50 samples of olive oil from 39 producers in the region were presented to the Extrema Selección Awards and its XXIII Extremaduran extra virgin olive oil tasting-contest that was held at the Villanueva de la Serena Congress Palace. This is the edition that has had the greatest number of samples, of which five were excluded for not meeting some of the rules.
Within the small production category, the Extrema Selección gold medal award went to Río Lacarón extra virgin oil, from La Garrovilla. In this same category, Hacienda Nava del Rey, in Villamiel and El Lagar de Casarente, next to the Los Canchales reservoir, received the silver award.
Regarding the category of large producers, the gold went to Jacoliva, from Pozuelo de Zarzón. In this category, silver went to Maimona, from Los Santos de Maimona.
As for the gold medal in organic production, it went to Cigüeña Negra, from Valverde del Fresno, while Vieru, from Eljas, and Lagar de Soto de Jacoliva, from Pozuelo de Zarzón, received the silver medal.
Finally, in the conventional production category, the gold went to Vieru, and Casat, from Don Benito, and MM Gourmet, from Lobón, received the silver medal.
All the winners agreed in pointing out the importance of these recognitions, especially in these difficult times with the drought, the pandemic and the current situation with the war in Ukraine.
However, they stressed that the work of many people, with the support of the administration, manages to carry out production, which this year has been very good, and also has high quality.
The president of the Board, Guillermo Fernández Vara, was present at the event, and he referred to the record year, with an increase in olive cultivation “with conscience and science.” We are improving our oils, which have a quality that allows us to be in the national and international markets, providing our sign of identity that is given by the land, its richness and its variety, he added.
Likewise, the president highlighted the importance that the oil mill masters have so that the final result of the oil “is the best.”
Finally, Vara also expressed his concern about the labor problem “and it must be put on the table, as well as ensuring that the drought does as little damage as possible.”